This article first appeared in The Edge Malaysia Weekly, on April 18 - 24, 2016.

 

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ASEAN as a single economy is forecast to become the third largest economy in the world by 2030, behind only the US and China. The success of the much talked about Asean Economic Community (AEC), set to be established within the year, will be paramount to achieving this.

Forming the back...

Viewpoint: The role of SMEs in determining the success of AEC

KUALA LUMPUR (April 13): Economy Minister Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli defended his position as PKR Pandan branch chief in the 2025 PKR election for the branch, Wanita branch, and Angkatan Muda Keadilan (AMK) branch levels, which took place on Saturday (April 12).

2025 PKR election: Rafizi defends Pandan, Amirudin and Ramanan win unopposed

JOHOR BAHRU (April 13): BHPetrol, a subsidiary of Boustead Holdings Bhd and the Armed Forces Fund Board (LTAT), plans to build up to 30 new petrol stations in rural areas nationwide.

BHPetrol to build 30 new stations in rural areas nationwide

(April 13): The giants of private equity have spent years trying to cozy up to Middle Eastern wealth funds to secure massive checks. US President Donald Trump’s burgeoning trade war just made those efforts even more critical — and asset managers have been forced to get creative.

Carlyle...

Buyout firms get creative on Gulf trips in bid for bigger checks

(April 13): Six years after Argentina’s record financial bailout collapsed, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is again putting billions of US dollars to backstop a similar rescue strategy for the troubled South American economy, this time under the leadership of President Javier Milei.

...

IMF bets billions on Milei’s chainsaw to avert past debacles

BEIJING (April 13): New bank loans in China rebounded more than expected in March from a sharp drop the month before, offering some relief to policymakers as the world's second-largest economy braces for an escalating trade war with the United States.

Chinese banks extended 3.64 trillio...

China March new bank loans rise to 3.64 trln yuan, beating expectations

HONG KONG (April 13): Hong Kong's last remaining major opposition party took a key step towards disbanding itself on Sunday after a special meeting approved arrangements to do so in the face of pressure from China, amid a national security crackdown.

Five senior members of the Democrati...

Hong Kong's last major opposition party moves towards disbanding

KUCHING (April 13): Negotiations between the federal and state governments regarding the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) can be resolved amicably without the need to bring the matter to court for legal interpretation, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof said.

MA63: Legal interpretation issue can be resolved amicably without court intervention — Fadillah

BENGALURU (April 13): Clients of India's Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) in the retail, travel and automobile sectors are more exposed to fallout from US tariffs, and they may resort to cost-cutting if uncertainty persists, the company's chief executive officer told Reuters.

India's TCS says retail, travel clients more exposed to US tariff turmoil

(April 13): The first Group of Seven (G7) monetary policy decisions since US President Donald Trump’s trade war unleashed global market turmoil may prompt diverging responses from either side of the Atlantic.

Central banks prepare first G7 responses to US chaos

CAIRO/JERUSALEM (April 13): Two Israeli missiles hit a building inside a main Gaza hospital on Sunday, destroying the emergency and reception department and damaging other structures, medics said, in a strike which Israel said was against Hamas fighters exploiting the facility.

Israeli missiles strike Gaza hospital, patients evacuated

(April 13): Indonesia has detained the chief judge of the South Jakarta District Court and three other people in a bribery investigation related to a 2022 palm oil export corruption case that involved a unit of Wilmar International Ltd.

Indonesia detains judge for alleged bribery in palm oil case involving Wilmar's unit

(April 13): US President Donald Trump’s administration exempted smartphones, computers and other electronics from its so-called reciprocal tariffs, representing a major reprieve for global technology manufacturers including Apple Inc and Nvidia Corp, even if it proves a temporary one.

Apple, Nvidia score relief from US tariffs with exemptions

TAPAH (April 13): Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil has given all telecommunication companies until 5pm on Sunday to submit solutions to the problem of poor Internet access nationwide, or face stern action.

Fahmi gives telcos until 5pm today to resolve internet issues, or face stern action

KUALA LUMPUR (April 13): Several roads in the Klang Valley and Putrajaya will be fully closed or diverted in stages from Tuesday (April 15) to Thursday (April 17),&nbsp;in conjunction with Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit to Malaysia.

Road closures, diversions during upcoming Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Malaysia

(April 13): Apple Inc has managed to dodge its biggest crisis since the pandemic — for the moment, at least.

Apple was on brink of crisis before tariff concession from Trump

PUTRAJAYA (April 13): Malaysia is set to take centre stage in advancing sustainable and inclusive trade practices as it co-hosts the Forest, Agriculture, Commodity and Trade (FACT) Forum for the first time, with a strong focus on smallholders and sustainable certification, said Plantation and Com...

Malaysia to champion smallholder inclusion, sustainable trade at inaugural FACT 2025 Forum — plantation minister

(April 13): The first Group of Seven (G7) monetary policy decisions since US President Donald Trump’s trade war unleashed global market turmoil may prompt diverging responses from either side of the Atlantic.

SHANGHAI (April 13): Chinese President Xi Jinping vowed to deepen his country's strategic partnership with Indonesia, in a call with President Prabowo Subianto on Sunday, China's official Xinhua News Agency reported.

China's Xi vows to Indonesia's Prabowo to deepen partnership, Xinhua says

KUANTAN (April 13): A 72-year-old woman lost over RM2.6 million to a fake gold investment scheme she joined through social media last year.

Elderly woman loses over RM2.6m in gold investment scam

ABOARD AIR FORCE ONE (April 13): US President Donald Trump said on Saturday that he will provide an update on his administration's approach to semiconductor chips tariffs on Monday.

Trump says he will provide more info on semiconductor chips tariffs on Monday

(April 13): Kensington and Chelsea has long attracted high-earning workers willing to pay exorbitant housing costs to live in one of London’s most glitzy districts. Now they are leaving in their thousands.

London’s most desirable neighbourhoods have lost 11,000 workers

(April 13): Hanging precariously from the tops of towering date palms, farm workers painstakingly pollinate the trees by hand. With around 100,000 palms to fertilise in just days, the pressure is especially intense this spring.

Luxury confectioner looks to take LVMH-backed Saudi brand Bateel global

PUTRAJAYA (April 13): The Health Ministry will enhance its security control standard operating procedures (SOPs) at all hospitals to prevent any untoward incidents, said Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad.

Hospital security SOPs to be tightened post allegation twins abducted by impersonator posing as doctor

(April 13): Japan isn’t planning to use its US Treasury holdings as a negotiation tool to counter US tariffs in talks scheduled between the two governments for April 17.

Japan doesn’t plan to use US Treasuries as tariff talk leverage

BUTTERWORTH (April 13): Former Seberang Jaya assemblyman Dr Radin Muhamad Amin Radin Hadi Munir died of cancer at Bukit Mertajam Hospital at 6.55am on Sunday. He was 71.

Former Seberang Jaya assemblyman Dr Radin Muhamad Amin passes away

TAPAH (April 13): The government is open to considering any proposals for improving existing laws, including those involving the appointment process of the chief justice (CJ), said Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil.

CJ’s appointment process: Govt open to proposals on improving laws — Fahmi

KUALA LUMPUR (April 13): His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, and Her Majesty Raja Zarith Sofiah, Queen of Malaysia, on Sunday extended the Vaisakhi and Tamil New Year greetings to the Malaysian Sikh and Tamil communities, respectively.

King, Queen extend Vaisakhi, Tamil New Year greetings 

ABOARD AIR FORCE ONE/MOSCOW (April 13):&nbsp;US President Donald Trump said on Saturday (April 12) that talks to end the Russia-Ukraine war might be going OK, adding in remarks to reporters aboard Air Force One that there is a time when you have to put up or shut up.

Trump says talks on Russia-Ukraine war might be going OK

DUBAI (April 13): Iran and the US said they held "positive" and "constructive" talks in Oman on Saturday (April 12) and agreed to reconvene next week in a dialogue meant to address Tehran's escalating nuclear programme, with US President Donald Trump threatening military action if there is no deal.

Iran, US hold 'positive' nuclear talks in Oman, agree to resume next week

JOHOR BAHRU (April 13): Thirty-five medical officers from the Malaysian Armed Forces will be sent on a humanitarian mission to earthquake-hit Myanmar, said Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin.

Tun Musa Hitam